Becoming a Sage Starts From Condensing the Essence of Time

Chapter 49: Other Than Drawing Bamboo, Can Master An Draw Anything Else?

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The morning breeze blew across his face, bringing with it the unique coolness of spring. After An Le ate the beancurd sold by the stall at the entrance of the alley, he walked slowly and bathed in the spring breeze. He read as he headed towards West Lake.

The water was sparkling and clear. The mountain was empty and the rain was strange.

The West Lake on a rainy day and a sunny day were two different sceneries. The sun shone behind the clouds in the sky, illuminating the surface of the lake. It was like golden sand sifting out and rolling in his palms.

On the embankment, scholars and calligraphers gathered as usual. The flower boats in the lake rippled like young grass, disturbing the softness in the scholars’ and calligraphers’ hearts.

An Le walked to the embankment and looked at the lake water. He was in a good mood.

He strolled and read, waiting for the arrival of the female Sword Immortal Courtesan on the flower boat in the middle of the lake. However, he had not seen Fairy Yun Rou for the past few days, so he did not know if he could see her today.

It was a different feeling to come to West Lake every day to read or admire the scenery.

However, the atmosphere by the embankment today was a little different from usual.

The scholars gathered together and whispered to each other, their eyes filled with gossip.

“Have you heard of Master An who obtained the Little Sacred Token on the Sixth Mountain yesterday?!”

“I’m studying in the Literary Department. How can I not know Master An? His ink bamboo is completely different from the previous hand-drawn bamboo.

It’s really amazing and dazzling.”

“I was lucky enough to take a look at the ink bamboo copy that was circulated in the Literary Department. It’s indeed unique.”

The scholars and calligraphers were very talkative and kept calling him Master After listening for a while, An Le understood that this Master An… was actually himself.

An Le, who was in the mood, did not leave either. He gathered by the embankment and listened to the praises of the scholars and ink artists. Sometimes, he would even add a sentence and mention some analysis of the ink bamboo painting.

“Brother, have you seen the ink bamboo painting before?”

A scholar was immediately surprised by An Le’s sharp comments. He cupped his hands and greeted him.

An Le bowed humbly. “I was lucky enough to see him a few times.”

“Oh? Brother, are you also studying in the Literary Department?” Many scholars asked curiously. After all, they looked unfamiliar with An Le. “That’s not it. I’m an artist in the Lin Residence and paint for the young masters of the Lin Residence when they’re free.”

An Le replied with a smile. He had indeed never been to the Literary Department.

Many scholars were in high spirits and conversed with An Le. He chatted for a while, but Fairy Yun Rou did not appear today, so he bid farewell to them and went to Lin Manor to work.

Even though he had won the Little Sacred Token and shocked Lin’an with his painting,

all of this did not change much in his life. He would still go to the Lin

Residence to work. He still had to study seriously and prepare for the Spring Quarter Examination.

An Le stepped on the limestone road with Green Mountain and Ink Pool Sword on his waist and disappeared from the long dike.

Many scholars retracted their gazes and felt that An Le was an interesting person. They recognized that An Le would come to the West Lake every day to look at the woman and girl in the flower boat.

Suddenly, a scholar from the Literary Department shouted in surprise.

Looking in the direction where An Le left, his eyes were slightly excited.

“As far as I know, a while ago, when the Lin Residence was recruiting painters,

Master An stood out and entered the Lin Residence to become an artist…” “Do you think this brother just now is Master An?”

The scholars were stunned and looked in the direction where An Le had left. Then, they laughed out loud and felt that this thought was ridiculous. “What kind of person is Master An? Why would he come to the West Lake every day to look at ladies in the flower boat in the lake?”

“Master An is such an otherworldly person. How can he be on the same level as

Laughter rose from the embankment.

An Le did not know what had happened by the West Lake after he left. Even if he knew, he would only smile.

Walking along the bustling street and bathing in the warm spring sun, he stepped onto Jing Street and crossed the stone tablet jade shop that made all the civil and military officials dismount from their horses. He saw the iconic Eight Treasures Heavy Eaves Waterdrop Heavenly Wave Pavilion of the Lin Residence.

The person who opened the door was still the shy maidservant, Liu Xiang. Seeing the handsome and flirtatious An Le, she pursed her lips shyly.

Yesterday, An Le suppressed many geniuses on the Sixth Mountain and obtained the Little Sacred Token. After Lin Zhuifeng returned to the residence, she started to promote it noisily, so most of the people in the residence knew about An Le’s deeds.

Now that she saw An Le, Liu Xiang felt that Young Master An was as handsome as an immortal from the heavens.

An Le smiled gently and entered the Lin Residence under Liu Xiang’s lead.

Originally, An Le wanted to meet Madam Hua and ask about the Little Sacred Ranking. However, Liu Xiang told An Le that Madam Hua had yet to return to the residence, so An Le went straight to the Martial Arts Hall.

“Master An.”

Lin Zhuifeng and Lin Qingyin teased An Le when they saw him.

When An Le heard this, he couldn’t help but wave his hand. “How can I dare to accept that title?”

In the Martial Arts Hall, the young masters of the Lin Residence today were all dressed in tight clothes. They looked extremely energetic as if they were about to go out, but they also seemed to be waiting for An Le.

Yesterday, they naturally went to the Sixth Mountain to try their luck and see if they could become the Mountain Guardian. However, they were surprised to see An Le, a familiar painter from Lin Residence.

Eighth Young Master Lin Ye came over eagerly. “Master An, you’re finally here. Your ink bamboo is now famous in Lin’an. Not only the Literary Department, but even many people in the Martial Temple praised it.”

“We’re going to the Martial Temple soon to carry out the Spring Sun Martial

Examination. After the Martial Examination, many of us will go to the Blue

Wave River to rebuild the former glory of Lin Residence.”

“We specially stayed behind to meet Master An today.”

The surrounding young masters of the Lin Residence also smiled.

An Le had become familiar with everyone, and there were fewer unfamiliarities between them. The young masters of the Lin Residence who looked difficult to get along with were actually quite easy to get along with.

“I promised Madam Hua to paint for the young masters. The paintings are not finished yet. There’s still a long time in the future.” An Le said seriously.

It was unknown if they would be dead or alive after going to the frontier fortress, but An Le hoped that they could return safely.

Everyone chuckled and continued to chat.

During the conversation, An Le absorbed Age Qi from the young masters.

Each person still provided three wisps, but he could absorb a total of 15 wisps from five people.

For example, the Eighth Young Master, Lin Ye, had been completely emptied by An Le after this. He no longer had Age Qi on him.

The young masters of the Lin Residence could not afford An Le’s suction for long.

There were a total of 15 wisps of Age Qi. This time, An Le did not hesitate much. He chose to split them into three portions and evenly augment them on the Dao Fruits that needed them.

As for the cultivation techniques, the Five Animals Body Tempering Technique and the Sword Waterfall Diagram had been greatly enhanced previously, so there was no need to augment them for the time being.

After the enhancement, An Le felt his mind tremble slightly, and his body seemed to have changed slightly.

The improvement was not obvious, but it subtly changed An Le.

The young masters of the Lin Residence chatted with An Le for a while. When it was almost time, they left the Lin Residence together and headed for the Martial Temple. Lin Zhuifeng also had to participate in the Martial

Examination, so only Ninth Sister Lin Qingyin and An Le were left alone.

Of course, it was not entirely true to say that they were alone. In the distance, there were still servants waiting for orders.

The two of them arrived at the Heavenly Wave Water Pavilion and sat in the pavilion.

A spring breeze blew over, causing the blue water in the pool to ripple.

“Sir, are you still teaching painting today?” Lin Qingyin asked gently.

An Le smiled. “Today, I’ll teach you the realistic shadow sketch.”

Then, he asked the maidservant, Liu Xiang, for an apple and placed it on the table that was deliberately piled with folded cloth. He taught Lin Qingyin about the control of light and darkness and the drawing of cloth.

Lin Qingyin studied seriously, and An Le taught her seriously.

The sound of the charcoal brush rustling on the paper was like the chirping of cicadas in summer, bringing peace to the mind.

Suddenly, on the white jade arch bridge of the Water Pavilion, Madam Hua’s personal servant, Xi Xiang, walked over leisurely.

“Young Master An, Ninth Miss.”

Xi Xiang bowed.

“Madam has just returned with a message. If Young Master An comes to the residence, you can go and see Fourth Master. Madam has already asked Fourth Master to inform you about the Little Sacred Ranking.”

When An Le heard this, he immediately bowed in return. “Help me thank Madam for her concern.’

“Sir, go ahead. I can paint alone in the hall. After I’m done, I’ll let you review my work tomorrow.” Lin Qingyin stood up and smiled gently.

When An Le heard this, he no longer hesitated. After nodding, he bowed to Lin Qingyin and bade farewell before heading towards Qingfeng Garden with Xi Xiang.

Before he entered the courtyard, he heard the neighing of a horse outside.

“Fourth Master has lived in the Yuan Meng Empire for a long time and has gradually developed his habits. He likes to raise and train horses. I heard that there’s a Daoli horse in the Fourth Master’s courtyard. It runs like black lightning and has a violent temper.”

Xi Xiang said softly, then knocked on the door of Qingfeng Garden.

“Fourth Master, Madam asked me to bring Young Master An to see you,” Xi Xiang said.

“Enter.” A faint voice sounded from the courtyard. The door opened under a mental power.

The area within Qingfeng Garden was actually very large. There was also a small grass field. Fourth Master Lin was wearing a Confucian shirt and had a table in front of him. There was rice paper spread out on the table.

Fourth Master Lin frowned and drew for the Daoli horse lazily basking in the warm spring sun in the grass field with a gloomy expression.

Seeing An Le, Fourth Master Lin nodded slightly and chuckled. “Since we parted last time, I have to call you master when we meet again now.”

An Le waved his hand. “I don’t dare. Fourth Master, just call me An Le.”

Fourth Master Lin seemed to have thought of something, and his eyes lit up as he looked at An Le. “I want to make a painting for my Daoli horse, but my painting skills are poor…”

“I wonder if Master An can draw anything else besides bamboo?”